ENGLAND'S preparations for the opening Test of the Ashes series today suffered another blow with Mark Ramprakash joining their long list of injured players.

The Surrey batsman, who was called into the squad on Saturday as a replacement for Graham Thorpe, aggravated a hamstring injury playing against Lancashire yesterday and has been forced to withdraw from the squad.

It leaves England facing the possibility of entering the first Test without five key players, with Thorpe already ruled out with calf trouble, Michael Vaughan struggling with knee trouble and both Ashley Giles (Achilles) and Craig White (side strain), who both face fitness tests at Edgbaston today, less than 100% fit.

A decision about a replacement for Ramprakash, who was due to make his first Test appearance in over a year, will be made after training with Middlesex youngster Owais Shah the most likely alternative after impressing during the recent NatWest Triangular Series.

Giles and White were both sidelined for the drawn two-Test series against Pakistan and the NatWest Series but England had been hopeful of them both reporting at Edgbaston today fully fit.

However White has yet to bowl at full pace for Yorkshire since his return to action, while left-arm spinner Giles reported stiffness and soreness in his Achilles tendon after a lengthy bowling spell for Warwickshire at the weekend.

Vaughan, who damaged his knee in the build-up to the second Test defeat by Pakistan at Old Trafford, had an injection to help the damaged cyst in his left knee last week and hopes to take his place in England's decimated line-up later this week.

The biggest concern for the selectors, however, has been the fitness of left-hander Thorpe, who has been sidelined since straining his left calf in the warm-up for the opening match of the NatWest Series against Pakistan at Edgbaston nearly a month ago.

"Graham saw a second specialist in London over the weekend regarding his calf injury and we are currently awaiting the results of tests," confirmed physiotherapist Dean Conway.

"He continues to experience tightness in the calf while running and turning and, while he has not been ruled out of the Test, at this stage he remains a serious doubt."

At least England can be consoled by the return of captain Nasser Hussain, who has had six weeks on the sidelines after having a finger broken by Shoaib Akhtar in the opening Test of the summer against Pakistan at Lord's.